West Ham’s back line improvement over season is remarkable
West Ham have made a number of improvements over the course of the season. But none as impressive as the improvement in the back line.
At the start of the season West Ham looked incapable of keeping a clean sheet and got off to an awful 4 game losing start. But since then we’ve seen the attacking style click, and gradually over time we’ve also seen the defensive line really work together, regardless of personnel. The work over the last few games has been amazing.
Despite injuries to Cresswell, Balbuena, Reid and rotations across the line we’ve been resolute and not wavered on the high pressing line that Pellegrini has demanded. The reward? A solid structure we can be proud of and a base for our entire style.
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As previously mentioned, the start of the season was a horror show. Fredericks was all at sea, the new players in the middle of the defence weren’t gelling and Masuaku or Cresswell had no idea what was going on. Now we’ve almost kept City out, recovered to be solid despite an early slip against Fulham and kept out an in form Newcastle side.
And it’s not just the results, it’s the way we’ve played as well. Fredericks has been assisting the attacks by getting forward, Cresswell and Masuaku have both given confident performances recently which have befuddled those fans who wanted them both out. And in the middle rather than a mistake being followed up by a lot of looking around and gormless looks, each centreback seems ready to jump in and know how to deal with an error. It’s a crazy turnaround.
Rice stands out in solid West Ham performance. dark. Next
So whilst the likes of Anderson, Lanzini, Yarmolenko or Antonio may have got headlines throughout the season I think the biggest turnaround has been at the back. Pellegrini has stuck to his beliefs and forced the Hammers to sit up and take note. Now it’s time to finish the season on good form and prove we’re here to mix it with the big boys.